Archaeologists searching for the remains of Richard III under a city centre car park in Leicester say they have discovered a human skeleton showing evidence of ‘battle injuries’ and ‘curvature’ of the spine.

The University of Leicester, which has led the search for the lost grave of the last king of the House of York, said this amounted to ‘strong circumstantial evidence’ the body of Richard III had been found.

My kingdom for a hatchback: Richard III could be buried under a Leicester car park (Picture: PA)

The university’s director of corporate affairs Richard Taylor said DNA tests, which could take 12 weeks to complete, would now be carried out to see if the remains matched a 17th generation descendant of the monarch’s sister.

Records suggest the despoiled body of Richard III, who was portrayed as a scheming villain in William Shakespeare ‘s eponymous play, was taken to the city after he was defeated by a Lancastrian army in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth.

Mr Taylor said the skeleton also showed signs of trauma to the skull consistent with an injury received in battle and that an arrowhead was lodged in its upper back.

He also revealed the skeleton’s right shoulder was visibly higher than its left, but that this did not indicate a hunchback.

Mr Taylor said the dig ‘resembled something out of a Dan Brown novel with its twists and turns’, adding that what had been found so far in the ruins of a medieval friary was ‘truly remarkable’.

DNA tests will now be carried out on the skeleton, which was found in the ruins of a medieval friary (Picture: PA)

Richard Buckley, co-director of University of Leicester Archaeological Services, said he believed the body of Richard III had been found but would reserve final judgement until the results of DNA tests were known.

‘I think we have a prime candidate,’ he said. ‘I would be quite surprised if there were other people buried in the church. It is now subject to further analysis.’